Rapper “P-Dice” Sentenced to 63 Months for Utilizing “Ghost Gun” to Shoot at Pregnant Woman

NEWARK, N.J. - Rapper "P-Dice" was sentenced on June 23, 2026, to 63 months of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon when he fired a gun at a pregnant woman, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.

Justin Pope, a rapper who goes by "P-Dice," 38, of Clifton, New Jersey, previously pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with two counts of unlawfully possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.

"The defendant's brazen and violent conduct could have cost lives. Pope fired multiple shots at close range at a pregnant woman in a public parking lot and took to social media to taunt law enforcement as he continued to endanger the community. This sentence holds him accountable not only for unlawfully possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, but for the potentially deadly harm of his actions. Our Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who use firearms and ammunition to threaten lives and undermine the safety of our communities."

- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On the evening of July 12, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired in a public parking lot in Clifton, New Jersey. The surveillance footage showed Pope and a pregnant woman arguing in a car. During the argument, the woman grabbed a gun from Pope and waved it at him before giving it back. The woman struck Pope in the face with her hand and got out of the car. As she did, Pope pointed the gun at her and fired two close range shots. Then, Pope exited the car and approached the woman. In an attempt to escape, the woman got back into the car, but Pope violently yanked at the woman's arm, trying to pull her back out. When this was unsuccessful, Pope climbed over the pregnant woman and kicked at her to push her from the car.

One of bullets that Pope fired traveled across the street into a quick service restaurant, where it lodged in a menu display behind the counter. The restaurant was open for business with employees present at the time. Law enforcement recovered the bullet.

The next day, Pope posted a video of himself on social media firing a gun in the air in a residential neighborhood, taunting police, stating, "Can't find me . . . Police. Y'all never gonna find me." Shortly after his taunts, law enforcement recovered his ammunition. Later, Pope recorded and posted another video, in which he was driving a vehicle, taunting, "Can't find me. Fucking pigs. Police. Y'all never gonna find me."

A few hours after posting the second video on social media, law enforcement arrested Pope as he tried to get on a bus in New York City that was headed out of state. Pope was witnessed brandishing a firearm to bus employees. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered a loaded gun, which was later identified as a privately made 9mm firearm, commonly known as a "ghost gun," with a large capacity magazine attached. Ballistics testing showed that this was the same gun Pope used to shoot at the pregnant victim the night before.

Pope had previously been convicted of aggravated assault in New Jersey in connection with the shooting of a child.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Pope to 3 years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; officers of the Clifton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Rinaldi; officers of the Paterson Police Department, under Officer in Charge Patrick Murray; officers of the Passaic County Sheriff's Department under Sheriff Thomas Adamo; officers of the Passaic Police Department, under Chief Luis Guzman; and officers of New York City Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Edward Caban, with the investigation leading to the charges.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Criminal Division.

###

Defense counsel for Pope: Georgina Pallitto, Esq.